All season, Jimbo Fisher has stressed to his team the importance of eliminating clutter and controlling what they can control.

Almost robotically, the top-ranked Florida State Seminoles (13-0) have echoed their head coach for the last four months leading up to next week's BCS national championship game that will feature Fisher's Seminoles and the No. 2 Auburn Tigers (12-1).

With just six days until the title game, today begins a week of media attention – and "clutter," as the Seminoles call it – unlike anything FSU's faced all season.

The team flies to Pasadena, Cali., this morning.

Playing in college football's biggest game of the season, in the nation's No. 2 media market, avoiding the clutter will be no easy task.

"It is difficult. It's not easy," former FSU star tailback Warrick Dunn said of the week leading up to the national championship game. "You can't always read your press clips. You always have to have that chip on your shoulder. You can't read your press clips because you get conformable."

Dunn, who is one of nine FSU players to have his jersey retired, played in two national championship games during his four-year college career (1993-96). He helped the Seminoles win their first national championship during the 1993 season, and says ignoring the increased hype this week is a must for his Seminoles.

"If everyone's saying you should win, and you get comfortable, I just think that takes the edge off of you," Dunn said. "So you just always have to keep that edge on. But I think those guys, they understand."

Beating their opponents by an average of 42 points this season, the Seminoles have taken Fisher's "control what we can control" saying to another level – they've dominated. But part of being in control includes the preparation surrounding a game.

Fisher schedules practice and makes travel plans, always trying to create some familiarity and consistency for his players. He tries to provide them the same amount of rest between travel and a game, and always tries to maintain a weekly practice routine.

But when FSU and Auburn kick off in Rose Bowl Stadium, it will be the first time the two teams have played a game since winning their conference championships a month prior.

"Football practice was normal, and preparation time was normal, but everything outside of that was abnormal," said former FSU star quarterback Charlie Ward, who led FSU to its 1993 national title. "You want it to be normal, but with everyone wanting autographs and pictures, and just a whole bunch of other different things, it made it tough to prepare. Everyday there's going to be something."

Ward, who won the Heisman Trophy the same season FSU won the national championship, believes whichever team handles the off-field clutter better will have a clear advantage in the game.

"I think the team that settles down first will be the one that will get the upper hand on the game," Ward said. "It's such a long layoff, a lot of factors that aren't consistent over the course (of practice) and makes it challenging to get (that) rhythm. That's for both teams."

The week leading up to a more traditional bowl game is typically jam-packed with team activities, outings and charity events. This week, leading up to a national championship game will be different for FSU.

The team's schedule mostly includes practices, team meals and set times to speak with media members from across the country.

But FSU's former star players insist that the week is full of distractions.

"It's a lot of hype – a lot of hype, and a lot of expectations," Dunn said. "You have to keep your eye on the prize and not get caught up in all the festivities, but understand the ultimate goal.

"Leading up to the game, you have to continue to do all the little things they've done throughout the season to prepare for the game. And once the game is there, they have to leave it all out there on the field."

Both Dunn and Ward will be in Pasadena Jan. 6 to watch their Seminoles play for the crystal ball.

"Florida State has had some tough times over the last few years, and now guys, they want to bring it back," Dunn said. "They want to show the country that Florida State belongs with the best teams in the country. I think them winning a national championship this year would solidify them taking a step up, back to national prominence."